Behind The Ministry | Kane McEntire

Name, Position, where can we find you online?

Give us a backstory of how you got into youth ministry.

I started volunteering for our Wednesday night Youth services. As the group grew the Youth Pastor saw the need for a helper. I was hired on part-time on February 11, 2013.

What are your strength’s as a youth pastor? What do you love most about youth ministry, and what areas do you struggle with/in?

Practical teaching, outgoing, it’s easy for students to approach me with questions and struggles. I love seeing parents and volunteers rise up and run with the vision. I struggle the most with parents who don’t back up what their faith or let their student do whatever they want.

What are your thoughts on the high turnover in youth ministry?

It needs to stop. Youth ministry is a calling, not a resume-builder to another calling. These students are so used to people coming and going that they want to trust. You want to be dynamic to your students and for the Kingdom? Stay the course!

What would you say to a new youth pastor who wants to give up, or is questioning his/her calling?

Stop, get over that hill through prayer and let the Holy Spirit guide you!

What are your favorite youth ministry resources?

The Bible 🙂

If you were starting over today as a youth pastor what would you do?

Be more gentle with people.

Story time. Share some stories from your time in youth ministry. Good, Bad, or Funny.

When I first started we made an announcement video at a skate park. I had never been on a skateboard before. I tried to go down a 10 foot bowl. I went down, on my butt.

What is your philosophy in youth ministry? Explain how you see it, how you work/run your ministry etc.

I try to live by the quote “He who is not willing to hold the toilet brush is not worthy of the microphone.”

Give an example of how you operate in your strength. For example, if you are super organized walk us through how you set up your calendar, or whatever you rock at. If you are great at communicating break down your process.

I simply come up with lessons based on conversations I’ve had recently with students. If you engage with students where they are in that season of their life, you’ll be astounded how much teaching material comes from that conversation. I can ramble on and on so I’ve also tried to soak my teachings in scripture and staying put to my notes.